Ms. Lenora's Rum Cake Some coffees are inspired by places. This one is inspired by a person. Ms. Lenora's Rum Cake is a tribute to a remarkable woman whose kindness touched the lives of a group of deployed Marines serving far from home. During our deployment to Iraq, mail call was always important—but every few weeks it became something special. That's when we hoped to see a package from a woman we simply knew as Ms. Lenora. Working through a civic organization in New Bern, North Carolina, and occasionally alongside my wife, Ms. Lenora would send homemade rum cakes to our camp. What may have seemed like a simple gift was far more than that. For a few hours on warm Mesopotamian Friday evenings, those rum cakes brought a taste of home to a place that felt very far away from it. Dominoes were played. Cigars were shared. Stories were told. And for a little while, the weeks between homecomings seemed shorter. As a small gesture of appreciation, we raised an American flag over our camp and sent it to Ms. Lenora. She proudly displayed it in her home for many years before eventually returning it to me, saying she knew it would be cared for. She understood exactly what that flag represented and the sacrifices connected to it. Though Ms. Lenora Chauvin has since passed on, the gratitude she inspired remains. This coffee is offered in her honor and in memory of the countless acts of kindness that help service members endure the challenges of deployment. The coffee itself is every bit as comforting as the memories that inspired it. Rich medium-roast coffee is blended with the warm flavors of cinnamon, pecans, and rum to create a smooth, inviting cup that feels like home with every sip. All cups of this coffee tip to you, ma'am. Beans at a Glance Origin: ColombiaElevation: 1,300–1,650 metersProcess: Vertical DryersHarvest Season: September–JanuaryRoast Level: Medium RoastFlavor Notes: Warm Cinnamon, Pecans, and Rum Contains natural and artificial flavors. No added sugar.
